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The Mars reconnaissance (Mars) orbiter images show a sand dune that looks remarkably like the famous Star Trek logo. Researchers from the University of Arizona, who are part of the MRO ground crew, assured us that it was only a coincidence, but the resemblance is so narrow that even the Star Trek actor, William Shatner, who played Captain Kirk in the hit series, speaks about it.
Hey @wars of the stars! Do you want to squeeze your Rebel rebels? ? We beat you! ???? https://t.co/b53KxKlAlj
– William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) June 13, 2019
"Enterprising viewers will make the discovery that these features look visibly like a famous logo," said the University of Arizona, which manages the HiRISE MRO camera (Scientific Experiment in High-Resolution Imaging), in a communicated. "You'd be right, but it's only a coincidence."
RELATED: NASA INVITES YOU TO SEND YOUR NAME TO MARCH
Form formed by the combination of lava and wind
The unusual-shaped dune is located in Hellas Planitia, in the southern hemisphere of the red planets. The University of Arizona explains that a combination of lava and wind formed the chevron shape of the dune. It seems that despite our astonishment, this type of training is not unusual for scientists observing Mars.
After years of observing the red planet, scientists have formulated a very good theory on how these beautiful forms are formed. A long time ago, large crescent-shaped dunes (barchan) crossed the plain.
& # 39; Duneprints & # 39;
At one point, an eruption below the surface of Mars caused a lava flow in the plain and around the dunes, but it did not rise above them. The lava then hardened and over time, the dunes collapsed, leaving their footprints as footprints on a beach. This phenomenon is also called "dunecasts", it is a kind of physical archive of the appearance of the landscape.
The Mars Orbiter has already worked more than double its expected life since its launch in 2005. NASA has announced its intention to continue using this orbit after the mid-2020s. The mission crew will change to that this hard-working equipment can continue its valuable work.
As a first step, researchers will move from using the aging gyroscope of the spacecraft to its stellar tracker. Another step in ensuring the longevity of the mission is to "pull" more useful life from its batteries.
Refocusing helps extend the mission
These changes result in a slight degradation of the capabilities of the instrument but overall allow the mission to continue well beyond its expected life. "We know we are an essential part of the Mars program to support other missions over the long term, so we are finding ways to extend the life of the spacecraft," Dan said. Johnston, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory MRO Project Manager, Pasadena, California. .
"For flight operations, our goal is to minimize the risks to the spacecraft while implementing an ambitious scientific and programmatic plan." JPL is working in partnership with Lockheed Martin Space, Denver, to operate the spacecraft.
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